In the world of DJing, there are two types of DJ sets. One is a DJ set, and another is a live DJ set. A DJ set happens when a DJ mixes songs while the DJ plays the music live to engage with their audience. Live sets are DJ sets, but instead of playing the music, they have an electronic instrument played by someone on stage with them.
This article will discuss what these different types of DJing are and how they differ from one another.
We will also cover some tips for those looking to break into either type of DJing and some mistakes you should avoid making if you want to succeed in your new career choice!
What is DJing, and what are the two types of DJ sets?
Djing is the act of playing music through two turntables and a mixer. The DJ can emphasize certain sounds such as drums, bass, and vocals by manipulating the speed of the song. You can use turntables to play recorded music, or a DJ can scratch vinyl records with their DJ equipment.
A DJ set is when a DJ mixes songs while DJ plays the music live to engage with their audience. This type of DJ set is less popular than the live DJ set because it’s more difficult to mix songs in real-time without any DJ equipment. In contrast, a live DJ set consists of an electronic instrument that they are on stage with.
This live DJ set is the most common type of DJing today due to the technological advances that have made DJ sets more accessible for everyone.
There are three main DJ mixers: a turntable mixer, a controller, and a standalone mixer. A tt-type DJ mixer has one record player with two different decks and DJ equipment to facilitate mixing songs.
A DJ controller is like a DJ set but needs additional software on a computer to mix music. If you are looking for DJ gear that will help expand your skills, this is the type of DJ mixer you should get! A standalone DJ mixer also has two decks, and most come with DJ software to help DJing. However, a standalone DJ mixer has all its DJ equipment in the same box, unlike the other two DJ mixers.
What are the differences between a DJ set and a live DJ set?
There are many differences between a DJ set and a live DJ set. A DJ set is when a DJ mixes songs while the DJ plays the music live to engage with their audience. For example, I played a DJ set and made it go back and forth between two songs. Then I paused the song.
Live sets are DJ sets, but instead of playing the music, they have an electronic instrument played by someone on stage with them. When people go to see EDM artists these days, they usually say, “I saw an EDM live performance.” They mean that the DJ was with their DJ set, but an EDM artist was playing the instrument this time.
I think DJ sets are different from live DJ sets in different ways besides playing the instruments. When I play my DJ set, there is a lot of freedom to do what you want, whereas if you are live DJing, there is a setlist telling the DJ what to play.
What I mean by freedom is, for example, at my DJ sets, I mix songs that work really well together, and when I am live DJing, it doesn’t matter if they go well with each other or even go with the track that was playing before.
Another example of freedom is when I DJ set for my DJ sets, I don’t always stick to one genre during live DJing. It doesn’t matter what genre you play since other people are helping you by playing live instruments.
The biggest difference between DJ sets and live DJing is not the instruments or who play them but how long and when DJs play the songs. When DJ’s play DJ sets, there is the freedom to do what they want but live DJing, there is a setlist telling DJ what to play and how long they have to play each song.
Tips for those looking to break into either type
Here are some tips for those looking to break into DJing and mistakes you should avoid doing if you want to be successful in your new career choice!
- Have a platform that people can find you on. Create a social media account and do DJ mixes when possible so people can hear how good you are before coming out to watch your DJ set live.
- Research DJing equipment. Know which DJ software is the best, what type of DJ mixer will work for you etc.
- When DJing, organize songs by Artist, Genre, or Tempo. Make a list of all genres that you know well enough to DJ with and organize them based other than alphabetically by genre first (i.e., house music, top 40, indie rock, etc.) when DJing a live DJ set. People want to hear songs in the same genre and go together well, like when DJ’s DJ sets.
- Keep track of what you did at your shows so you can make adjustments next time. Have a recorder or laptop with you and record yourself while DJing so you can review your work and see what you did correctly or incorrectly.
- Know the order of songs that people want to hear at DJ sets. You don’t want to play a slower song after a faster one or vice versa because it will ruin DJ flow and change the energy in the room. If you know what DJs should play, make a DJ setlist for shows and stick to that DJ setlist.
- Try not to play the same songs as a DJ set or live DJ. It’s okay if you do but try to be different than other DJs by playing songs you enjoy and experiments with new things at DJ sets.
Conclusion
This article has been a deep dive into the differences between a DJ set and a live DJ. If you’re looking to get started as a DJ, you must know what type of DJ sets are better for your desired audience.
Are you more interested in playing music with an instrument or mixing songs? With this information at hand, we can explore how these two types of DJ sets differ from one another because they each have different pros and cons, which you should consider before choosing which is best suited for your needs.
Consider if there will be people on stage with you when performing; do not want someone else taking over the performance? The answer might lie within your interests, so make sure to consider all variables! In conclusion, DJ set vs. live DJ is somewhat different from one another, so it’s helpful to narrow down your interests as well. DJ set vs. live DJs have differences that they share and differ in some key characteristics.